Khlong Lat Mayom floating market

Loads of food and few tourists

What we say:

Set in a relaxing spot out in Bangkok's rural far western reaches, Khlong Lat Mayom boasts a colourful atmosphere and some outstanding food. The fairly young floating market is very popular among locals but little known to travellers.

Mangoes to go.

Like the markets at Bang Nam Phueng and Bang Khla, just to name a couple, Khlong Lat Mayom sprang up only in the last 10 years as a venue for showcasing locally produced products while bringing some extra cash flow into the area. Unlike the markets of Amphawa and Damnoen Saduak, Khlong Lat Mayom is set along a decidedly quiet and narrow canal, so don’t expect photo-ops of a boat vendor traffic jam.

Frying while floating — not as easy as it looks.

Yet Khlong Lat Mayom ironically has a more authentic feel than the floating tourist trap of Damnoen Saduak, and a handful of vendors do prepare food like hoy tort (fried oysters with egg) on small boats that float in the narrow canal beside the market. Still, most of the vendors and several eating areas are on land.

Those tables fill up fast.

The market spans a tightly packed but fairly large area with narrow footpaths winding past vendors sheltered by individual thatched roof huts. Although most of the prepared food is found near the canal in the main section, a quieter stretch of walkways meander into a shady orchard where locally grown produce and one-of-a-kind handicrafts are sold. There’s even an “art zone” tucked into one corner; it looks to be set up mainly for kids, but don’t let that stop you from grabbing a paint brush.

For little and big kids.

Khlong Lat Mayom isn’t lacking in food. It’s difficult to resist the smoky scents of the many types of grilled seafood offered in the market, including salted river fish, jumbo shrimp, crab, mussels and many other types of shellfish.

Yum.

Finger foods and sweets also abound. After a 30 baht plate of kwit-tieau Yuan (Vietnamese-style wide noodles with pork), we sampled colourful luk chup, coconut and banana sticky rice khao niew bing and some other type of coconut flavoured rice flour sweet, washed down with an icy sugar cane juice served in a hollow piece of bamboo.

Hey! What’s in those things?

After having your fill of the fabulous local food, hop in a boat for a cruise around the canals. A small flat-bottom boat can take you around the immediate area for 10 baht, or 50 baht gets you a solid 90 minute longtail boat ride that explores the rural western reaches of Bangkok province. All of the boats depart from the narrow canal near the main section of the market, shoving off as soon as they’re full.

More details

Bang Ramat Rd, BangkokOpening Hours: 09:00 to around 16:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays onlyHow to get there: Khlong Lat Mayom floating market is located off Kanchanaphisek Road in far west Bangkok and can be reached by a local bus (#146) and then a songthaew ride if you speak a little Thai. The easier bet is to take a taxi from Bang Wa BTS station, which will run somewhere around 100 baht one way. You could negotiate for the taxi to stick around and return you to the sky train, but taxis regularly pass by along the main road.

Last updated: 16th May, 2014

About the author: David Luekens
Usually found exploring Bangkok's side streets or south Thailand's islands, David Luekens is an American freelance writer & photographer who finds everyday life in Asia to be extraordinary. You can follow his travails here.